that -- and amid all that, the general's plane was damaged by taliban militants who fired missiles at ill while parked at bagram -- at it while parked at bagram air force base. he is a 1974 graduate of west point. he and wiz dive deend wife deenie have four children and seven grandchildren. the chairman is also a self-described sinatra irish pub kind of guy -- [laughter] who loves to sing at official functions. among his hits, all available on youtube, are christmas in killarney, the sesame street theme, and despite being from new jersey, "new york, new york." it is my pleasure to welcome general martin dempsey, the melodious chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. [applause] >> well, i did hear you get a little roughed up when you come to these events. although i will say the last time i was many this room i was actually surrounded by the muppets. [laughter] thanks, theresa. there is a tradition in the cavalry corpses, i am a cavalryman by background and a cavalryman at heart that we call the spur ride. in the early days, a new cavalryman was put on a horse without a saddle, no bridle, just he
